Improvement in car-couplings



P. HIEN.

CAR-COUPLING.

No.174.676. Patented MarchH, 1876.

UNrrED STATES.

PATENT OFFIon.

PHILLIP HIEN, OF ROGKISLAND, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 174,676, dated March14, 1876; application filed December 23, 1875.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILLIP HIEN, of Rock Island, in the county of RockIsland and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Automatic (Jar-Couplings, of

of a sliding plate which confines it in position.

In the annexed drawings, making partof'this specification, Figure l is asectional elevation, showing two cars ready to be connected. Fig. 2 isan end elevation of the car. Fig.3 is a section of the end of thedraw-head, showing the link in its proper pocket; and Fig. 4 is asection showing a corresponding section of the other draw-head, andshowing the free end of the coupling-bar and the pin for raising it.Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the pin used for lifting thecoupling-bar.

The same letters are employed 'in all the figures in the designation ofthe same parts.

The draw-head and coupling-bars are employed as in said former patent,and need not be fully described herein.

In order to confine the ball on the end of the shackle in the recess inthe draw-head, and'at the same time permit its ready removal whendesired, I form a seat on the top of the recess and make rabbetedflanges to receive the cap A, which covers the recess in the draw-head.In order to prevent the cap from falling off with the motionof the cars,I give a downward inclination from the mouth of the draw-head to theseat for the cap. By this means I dispense with any bolt or other meansof securing the cap which would make its removal more inconvenient andrequire greater time to take out or insert the shackle. A notch is cutin the front edge of the cap sut'ficient to allow the proper play of theshackle in coupling and uncoupling the cars;

In operating under said former Letters Patent it has been foundinconvenient to detach the shackles, and when cars were not intendedto'be coupled they were liable to be coupled when pushed together. Toremedy these inconveniences is the object of the second part of thisinvention.

I bore a hole through the bottom of the recess in the draw-head, whichis intended to receive the free end of the shackle, andn'n this put apin. The pin B is preferably made with flanges on the side to formguides, and

also to tighten it, still retaining sufficient strength. The head of thepin B has a flange, B received in a groove, B in the draw-head, alsointended to keep it in'line. This form is, however, not indispensable,for a round pin with a flat head may be used.

The lever G isbent so that its end maybe brought underthe point of thepin. I have shown it as constructed with a socket in the upper end toreceive the hand-bar C. It is, however, obvious that it may be'made inone piece. The upper end is held in a guard on the hand-rail of theplatform, and such tension should be given the lever that it will springinto notches formed at each end of the guard. By turning the lever thepin B may be raised so as to'lift the free end of the link out of therecess. .If the lever remains in this position, holding the pinelevated,'its head will prevent the link from engaging, as the ballcannot fall into the socket, and thus the cars may be prevented frombecoming coupled when so desired. By shifting the lever the pin will bedropped and the socket left free to receive the link when it is desiredto couple the car to the train.

-The inclined point E on the end of the shackle is not in this caserequired as a bandle, but is important to be retained to adapt thecoupler to cars of different height.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In combination with the ball-shackle, the recessed draw-head and thecap .A, resting on an inclined seat, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with the ball-shackle,

the recessed draw-head, into which the ball falls by gravity, and isheld by the notch in the front of the draw-head, the pin B, the head Bwhich supports the ball and lifts it to un.

'-' i l r flame couple the cars, actuated by the lever 0, sub- Intestimony whereof Ihave signed my name stantially as set forth. to thisspecification in the presence of two sub- 3. In combination with thedraw-head and scribing witnesses. V

shackle, the pin B, lever G, and guard D, by PHIL. HIEN.

means of which the pin may be permanently l Witnesses:

retained in such position as to prevent the CHAS. H. MOULTON,

coupling of the cars, substantially as set forth. B. EDW. J. Ems.

